Refrigerating apparatus



A. H. STRONG 1,829,377

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 20. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 27, 11931. A. H. STRONG REFRIGERATING' APPARATUS Filed March 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 sive in construction,

of combustion from Patented Oct. '27, 1931 ARCHIE HUGH STRONG, OF FLUSHING,

, BEFRIGERAI'ING COMPANY,

PATENT OFFICE annexe-Enema arranaa'ua Application filed March 20, 1928. Serial No. 283,113.

This invention relates generally to'refrigcrating apparatus and particularly to refrig-' crating apparatus of the absorption type.

An object of this invention is to provide a generally improved apparatus of the character mentioned, which is simple and inexpenreliable inoperation, durable and economical to maintain.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the several cooperative elements of the apparatus in their respective positions at the beginning of the heating period; Figure 2 is a view showing the evaporator partly in elevation and partly in section; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 and showing certain elements of the control mech- V anism in elevation; and Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a by-pass valve; and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the control circuit for operating the gas and water valves, respectivel The apparatus includes a generator 10, control mechanism 11, separator 12, condenser including a condenser coil 13, evaporator 14, and water trap 15.

The generator 10, comprises a container 17, adapted for the reception of a refrigerating medium, such as an aqueous, solution of ammonia to be heated and transformed into a gas, which is later condensed and thereafter transformed back into a as to be absorbed by the liquid contents 0 the generator according to certain fundamental principles of refrigeration.

The container 17 is located within a suitable housing or casing 18 to whichjs connected a flue 19, adapted to carry products the housi'n 18 caused by the gas burner 21, located within the housing 18 below the container 17. This gas burner 21 may be of any suitable construction and is adapted to be connectedto a suitable source of fuel supply through a pipe 22 into which 1 is tapped a pilot burner 23, arranged within the housing 10 and so located with resppct to the burner 21 as to ignite the gas ets t ereof it will be understood that-any water vapor under certain conditions hereinafter more particularly described. Intermediate the gas burner 21 and the point of connection of thepilot burner 23 with the pipe 22, .is located a valve 25 co-operatively connected with a solenoid 26, which, when energized, o ens the valve 25 so that the burner 21 is supp ied with gas from the pipe 22 to be ignited by the pilot 23. v 1

Upon applying heat, through the instrumentality of the burner 21, to the generator 10, the ammonia is driven off from the aqueous solution within the container 17 through a pipe 27, connected at one end to' the contamer 17 and at its other end to the separator 12. This separator 12 comprises an inner chamber 28 with which the p1pe-27 communicates and from which a pipe 29 leads to the condenser 13. Around the chamber 28 is provided a water jacket 31, to the'upper end of which is connected a waste water pipe 32, adapted to discharge the water from the jacket 31*as it flows therethrough' from a water pipe 33 which passes through the condenser coil 113 and h water-supp y, not s own, throu a i e 33 and'a valve, to be hereafter desc ribedgaihd a pipe 34. The pipe 33 has an outside diameter somewhat less than the inside diameter of the condenser coil 13 so as to permit unobstructed NEW YORK, ASSIGNOE MASTER DOMESTIC INC A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK connected to a suitable .75

the condenser coil being connected at its opposite ends to the pipe 33 so as to form therewith a gas tight union. I

From the construction of the separator12, passing into the separator 12 from the generator 10 will be condensed withinthe inner chamber-28, thus relieving the ammonia gas prior to its entrance into the condenser coil .00

13 of such water vapor as it may contain. As the water collects in the separator 12 it is returned by gravity through the pipe 27 to the generator 10.

During the heating period, a suitable valve 37, connected in a me line 38 leading from the pipe 34 throug the generator 10 to the waste pipe 32 is maintained closed by a solenoid 39, which is connected in series with and energized simultaneously with the solenoid- 26. During such time as the solenoid 39 is energized and the valve 37 is maintained closed, water from the pipe 34 is permitted to pass through the pipe 33, condenser coil 13 and into the water jacket 31, from which it is discharged through the waste pipe 32. Inasmuch as the temperature of the water passing from the condenser coil 13 is somewhat raised in transforming the ammonia gas within the condenser into a liquid, the temperature of the inner chamber 28, of the separator 12 is maintained sufliciently high to prevent condensation of theammonia within the separator but sufliciently low to efiect condensation of water vapor that may pass from the generator 10 into the separator during the heating period and also, to pre-tcool the ammonia gas before -it reaches the .condenser, so as to ensure eificient condensation of the ammonia gas therein.

To one end ofthe condenser coil 13 is conneeted a chamber 40, which in turn .is con nected to a horizontally dispose'd ammonia receiver 41, constitutingan element of the evaporator 14. Around the chamber 40 is located abrine tank 42, adapted for the reception of'a quantity of brine. which, during the evaporation period, is chilled by the transformation of liquid ammonia into a gas as it passes from'the evaporator 14 back through the condenser and into the generator10, the

q 40. at a fairly low temperature during the chilled brine serving to maintain the chamber nextsucceeding generating period. By chilling thebrine within the tank 42 during the evaporating period, such chilling may be utilized during the next "succeeding generating period tor'educe the liquefied ammonia to a relatively; low temperature before it reaches the evaporator 14 (adapted to be located, within arefrigerator box not shown] and-thereby insuring against any appreciable rise in temperaturewithin the refrigerator unit in the form box during the heating period,

The evaporator 14 includes an evaporating of a 'pipe 44 which is so shaped as to provide a plurality of. U-shaped I 7 as to-ensure. filling "of the pipe with 'ammoniaasit is received by the receiver 41 portions. Opposite ends or the pipe project- 7 ing into the receiver-41, oneend be ngat a the'other' (see-Fig. 2) so;

sliglitdistance above liquid from-the condenser .13. This evaporator unit is housed within a brine receptacle 45- adapted for the reception of. a quantity-f of brine,

,which, during the evaporating period is substantially cooled so asto maintain'the refrigerator box, not shown, at a-low temperature during the next succeedingheating period following a period of evaporation.

If for any reasonthe separator 12fshould fail to condense any part of the water vapor 'present in the ammonia gas as it passes from the generator, and such water vapor becomes later condensed and finds itslway into the evaporator 14, such water will remain in the lowermost portion of the evaporator unit 44 after the evaporating period has been comvertically disposed receptacle 46 having its upper end connected by a pipe 47 to the lower portion of the evaporator unit 44, as shown most clearly. in Figure '2 the lower end of the receptacle 46 being connected to the generator 10 through a pipe 48 and a'normally closed hand operated valve 49. This automatic removal of water from the evaporator unit'44 will be effected as follows:

During the evaporation period, the pressure within the water trap 15 is lowered simultaneously with the lowering of the pressure in the evaporator unit 44 and the remainder of the system. However, when the heating period begins, pressure from the gen erator 10 is transmitted through the separator 12, condenser 13-, and receiver 41 to the evaporator unit 44, with the result that any water remaining in the evaporator unit, u on the completion ofthe evaporating period is forced 'up through the pipe 47 and into the water trap 15 as the pressure in such trap rises I generator 10, the appropriate time for o'pening' such-valve being during the eiraporating period, In the event any unevaporated ammonia remains in the evaporator unit 44, upon completion of the eva oratlng period, such ammonla is prevented om accumulat- 'ing as a liquid in the water trap 15 due to the fact that this trap-is located in proximity to and derives a sufiicient amount of heat from time to time it is from theflu'e 19 to evaporate any such ammo- J nia during the heating period. It is to be particularly noted, that it is essential to such evaporation that said water trap 15 shall remain in continually open communicationwith the evaporator through said pipe 47.

v The control mechanism shown is substantially the same" as that shown, described and claimed in .my' Patent No. 1,646,712, issued -Octob'er25, 1927, although modified in its adaptation to the new apparatus shown, de-

scribed and claimed herein. This control valve 37, and comprises a frame 51in which mechanism 11 operates'to open the gas valve 25 and simultaneously to close the water thereon a toothed segment 53. Upon the pivotally connected a pawl 55 provided at its free endwith a pin 56, oneend of the pin shaft 52 is journalledanarm 54 to which is' tease /v being provided with a roller 5? (see Figure 3) and the otherend of the pin being connected to the shaft 52 by a tension spring 58. The arm 54 is connected by a link 59 to a lever 60 which in turn is pivoted to a suitable support or housing 61, with which a compression spring 62 is associated. This compression spring is adapted to engage a lever 63, which is pivotally connected at one end to the housing 61" and linked at its other end to the lever 60 by a link (it. The arm 54 is moved downwardly from its uppermost position shown in Fig. l, by the spring'fiZ, and is moved upwardly to its position shown in Fig. 1 through the instrumentality of a sylphon bellows 66, which, by means of a tube 87, is connected to a suitable thermostat 68 associated with the ammonia receiver 4-1.

To the toothed segment 53, is suitably connected a strip of insulating material which carries a U-shaped metallic contact member ?0, having a pair of resilient contact lingers 71, provided at their respective free ends with contacts l2. The contacts 5 2 are adapted to engage fixed contacts 73 carried by and suitably insulated from the frame 51, with the result that a circuit is closed, from a suitable source of electrical energy through the conductor 75, metallic contact member and the conductor 76, which connects the solenoids 26 and 39 in the series. W hen the circuit, including the solenoids 26 and 39 is closed, the gas burner valve 25 is opened and the valve 3'? controlling the supply of cooling water to the apparatus is closed. The control mechanism 11 also in cludes a release arm '79 which is pivoted at its lower end to a suitable support and is connected at its upper end to a link 30, the link being pivotally connected to an arm 1 pivotally supported. as at 82, upon the housing of a sylphon bellows 83. This sylphon bellows is connected with the container 17 througha pipe 342, and is adapted to move the arm 81 against the influence of a tension spring 2'35. as the temperature in the container l? is increased during the heating period. eiiect therelease of the pawl 55 from the toothed segment 53, thereby allowing such segment to drop by gravity with the result that the circuit through the solenoids 23 and 39 is opened,

During the heating period, a sylphon bellows 87. which is connected through a pipe 88 to a bulb containing a thermostatic fluid and extending within the combustion chamher in the housing 13 surrounding the receptacle 17 is distended axially by expansion of said fluid to open a valve 89 carried within a housing 96, with the result that water during the heating period, at which time the valve 37 is closed, is permitted to flow from the pipe 34 through the compartments A and B of the valve housing 90 and into the pipe 33 Such movement of the release arm will a ,ically actuated thermally controlled which conveys the water through the condenser 13, from which it is discharged into the separator 12 to be carried therefrom by the waste pipe 32. After the heating period has begun and prior to such time as the valve 39 is opened, a small quantity of water passing through the apertured diaphragm 91 disposed in the pipe 33 intermediate the valve 3? and water supply pipe 34, is permitted to pass into the pipe 33 through a pipe 92 without passing through the valve housing 90, the pipe 92 being connected to the pipe 33 outside of the valve housing 90 at the discharge side thereof and being;, coupled to the pipe line 38 intermediate the valve 37 and aperture diaphragm 91., The valve 89 performs the highly important function of reducing to a minimum the amount of water required for efficient operation, inasmuch as such valve is open only durin the relatively short heating period, which may be as short as approxinately' forty minutes out of twenty-four hours, and thereafter only during a relatively shorter length of time at the beginning of absorption period. During that portion of the absorption period while the valve 89 is open, a small amount of water passes through the aperture of the diaphragm 91 and the valve 37, whereas the remaining; supply of water to the pipe 38 is supplied from the supply pipe 3 through the valve housing 90 and pipe 92. That is to say; when the valve 3? opens by the action of the solenoid 39, said valve 89 does not immediately close, because is closure can be eilected only byv the contraction of said sylphon 87, and such contraction is efi ected, comparatively slowly, in accordance with the lowering of the temperature in the combustion chamber surrounding said container 1? within said casing 13. Consequently, at the beginning of the time during which the valve 37 is open, said valve 89 is also open, so that the supply of water thru said valve 37, by way of the apertured diaphragm 91, is temporarily augmentby'the downward flow of water thru said pipe 92. Such flow thru the pipe 92 is, of course, diminished to nothing as said valve 39 gradually closes as a consequence of the loss of heat from said combustion chamber and, thus, said valve 89 may be termed automatmeans tor varying the supply of cooling medium to the generator during the absorption period.

At or about the time the contents of the generator 10 become cooled to a substantial degree by the water directed into the pipe 38 through the aperture ot the diaphragm 91 and the valve housing 90, the temperature within the housing 18 is init the sylphon bellows 37 to so act, in cooperation with the compression spring 93 associated therewith, as to close the valve 89, thereby cutting oil the main supply of water from the supply pipe so reduced as to perto the pipe 38. Howill its

. to be efliciently carried out.

In describing the operation of the? apparatus, it will be assumed that the absorption period has been completed and that the electrio circuit through the conductors 75 and 76 has been closed by bringing the contacts 72 into engagement with the contacts 73,,the engagement between such contacts havingbe'en made by reason of a rise in temperature within the ammonia receptacle 41 whichcaused the sylphon bellows 66 to so act upon the lever 60 as to move the arm 54 and toothed segment 53 to their respective positions shown in Fig. 1, the toothed segment 53 and arm 54 moving together under such conditions, due to the engagement of the pawl 55 with the toothed segment 53. Upon the closing of the electric circuit through the solenoids 26 and 39, the valve 25 is opened and the valve 37 is closed. By opening the valve 25, gas is supplied to the burner 21 and ignited by thepilot 23, and by closing the valve 37, water from the supply pipe 34 is cut ofi from the pipe 38 which passes through the generator 10 and serves to cool the contents thereof. Upon the application of heat to the generator 10, the ammonia carried therein is driven 011 as a gas through the pipe 27 and directed into the inner chamber 28 of the separator 12. Almost simultaneously with the application of heat to the generator from the burner 21, air within'the housing 18 is heated to a suflicient degree to cause the sylphon bellows 87 to open the valve 89. During the short time between the application of heat to the generator from the burner 21 and the time the valve 89 is opened, a small amount of water passing through the aperture of the diaphragm 91 is supplied through the pipe 92 to the pipe 33 and condenser 13, but as soon as the valve 89 is opened,'the main supply of water from the pipe 34 is permitted to pass through the valve housing 90 and into the pipe 33 to be thereafter directed through the condenser 13. The water passing from the condenser 13 is directed through the pipe 33 into the jacket 31 of the separa- I tor 12, from which it is permitted to pass through the pipe 32 and on to waste.

'Inasmuch as the jacket 31 of the separator 12 is supplied with water, any water vapor passing with the ammonia into the inner receptacle 28 is condensed therein and allowed to pass back into the receptacle 17 by gravity. The cooling effect of the. water within the jacket 31 is insuificient,however, to condense the ammonia, with the result that the ammonia passes from the separator through the pipe 29 and into the condenser 13. It is in the condenser 13 that the ammoniais condensed by the water passing through the pipe 33, which pipe passes through the condenser coil 13 and emerges therefrom at the other end thereof. As the ammonia gas is condensed in the condenser 13, the resultant liquid flows by gravity into the chamber 40 where it is pre-cooled by the cold brine within the tank 42. This pre-cooled ammonia passes from the chamber 40 by gravity into the ammonia receiver 41 and Into the evaporator unit 44. As the liquefied ammonia enters the ammonia receiver 41, during the heating period, pressure within the entire system is increased, with the result that any unevaporated liquid such as water remaining in the bottom of the evaporator unit 44 upon completion of the previous evaporating period, is forced over through the pipe 47 into the water trap 15. e As the heating period continues, the evaporator unit 44 becomes filled with liquefied ammonia and the surplus or excess liquefied ammonia collects within the ammonia receiver 41. Upon the completion of the heating period, which is determined by the rise in temperature within the generator 10, the sylphon bellows 83 is so acted upon as to swing the trip arm 79 to the right, whereby the pawl is released from the toothed segment 53, thus permitting suchsegment. together with'the contact member to swing by gravity to the right as viewed in Fig. 1. Such movement of the contact member, opens the circuit through the conductors 75 and 76 with the result that the valve 25 is closed, thereby the flame from the burner 21 .is extinguished, and the valve 37 is opened, whereby the pipe 38 is placed in communication with the supply pipe 34 through the aperture of the diaphragm 91 as well as through the valve housing 90. The valve 89 within the housing 90, remains open for a short time after the valve 37 is opened, with the result that water from the supply pipe 34 ispermitted to pass throu h the valve housing 90 and the pipe 92 into t e pipe line 38, thus furnishing a sufiicient amount pf water to the pipe 38 to effect relatively rapid cooling of the contents of the generator 10. As the interior of the housing 18 drops in temperature the valve 89 is permitted to close under the influence of the sylphonbellows 87 and its associated spring 93, with the result that only a relatively small amount of water is furnished to the pipe 38 through the aper- :reaasvv l3 and separator 12 and into where it is absorbed by the liquid remaining therein. Such evaporation serves to lower the temperature of the brine within the brine receptacle l5 and thus reduce the temperature of the refrigerator box, not shown, with which the evaporator is adapted for use. During evaporation the temperature of the brine contents of the tank 42 is also lowered, the low temperature of the brine therein being utilized during the next generating period to pro-cool the liquefied ammonia prior to its entrance into the evaporator 14. inasmuch as the volume of brine within the receptacle this relatively large and serves as a reservoir or cold, and since the liquefied ammonia is pro-cooled before it enters the receiver ll, it is possible maintain the brine the generator,

contents of the receptacle l5 and hence the contents of the refri erator box at a relatively low temperature even during the generating or heating period. During the evapcrating period, the expansible medium within the pipe 67 is so reduced in volume, as to permit the spring 66 to return the lever 60, with its associated arnt l, to its lowered position, thus'placing the pawl 55 in a proper position with respect the toothed segment 53 to enable such segment to be lifted to its position shown in Fig. l as the arm 5% is swung to its position shown in that figure. At or about the time the evaporating period is completed the temperature of the ammonia receptacle ll will have risen a sufficient degree to expand the medium within the pipe 67, with the result that the sylphon bellows 66, acting against the influence of the spring 62, swings the arm 60 upwardly. Inasmuch as the arm 60 is connected to the arm 5% and the latter arm is interlocked with the tootned segment 63, the contacts 72 are moved into engagement with the fixed contacts 7 3 upon a sutlicient rise in temperature within the am monia receiver ll. By reason of the engagement thus effected between the contacts 72 and 73, the circuit through the solenoids 26 and 89 is again completed whereupon the heating period is resumed and the succeeding sta es in the cycle of operation are again carried out as above described. A

/Vhile the invention is herein shown and described, as being embodied in one form of apparatus, it will be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is z 1. In a refrigerating apparatus, a generator for a refrigerant, periodically operated means for heating the contents of the generator, a condenser tor condensing the evaporated refrigerant, an evaporator, a separator located intermediate of and communicating with the generator and the evaporator ztor freeing the evaporated retriger ant of water vapor prior to the entrance of the refrigerant into the condenser, and a water trap connected with the evaporator for trapping during a given generating period such water as may have remained in the evaporator upon completion ofthe last preceding evaporating period, the means connecting said water trap with the evaporator continually ali'ording unrestricted communi cation, and thus continua permitting any ammonia in said trap to be vaporized and returned to the evaporator; a conduit extending from said trap to the generator; valve in said conduit below said trap; where by communication otsaid trap i said generator is normally prevented, but may be established, the will of the operator, to drain the trapped water 1 to the generator.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, a generator "for a refrigerant, periodically operated means for heating the contents of the generator, a condenser for condensing the evaporated retrigerant, evaporator, a separator located intermediate of and communicating with the generator and the evaporator for freeing the evaporated refrigerant of water vapor prior to the entrance of the refrigerant into said'condenser, water trap connected with the evaporator for trapping during a given generating period such liquid as may have remained therein upon completion of the last presiding evaporating period, and means for heating the water trap during the generating period to a su'fiicient degree to free the water trapof such refrigerant as may have passed there into without disturb ing the water contents thereof; a conduit extending from said trap to the generator; and a valve in said conduit below said trap; whereby communication of said trap with said generator is normally prevented, but may be established, the will of the operator, to drain the trapped water into the generator.

In a refrigerating apparatus, a generator tor a refrigerant, periodically operated means for heating the contents of the generator. a condenser for condensing the evaporated refrigerant, an evaporator, a separator located intermediate 01"" and coinznunicating with the generator and the'evaporator ior freeing the evaporated refrigerant of water vapor prior to the entrance or the refrigerant into the condenser, and water trap connected the evaporator for trapping during a givengenerating period such water as may have remained inthe evaporator upon completion or? the last preceding evaporating period, the water trap comprismg a receptacle adapted "for communicating at its lower end with the generator and being in communication at its upper end with the bottom of the evaporator and depending for its operation upon rise in pressure within the evaporator during generating period;

the means connecting said water trap with the evaporator continually affording unrestricted communication, and thus continually permitting any ammonia in said trap to be vaporized and returned to the evaporator; a conduit extending from said trap to the generator; and a valve in said conduit below said trap; whereby communication of said. trap with said generator is normally prevented, but may be established, at the will of the operator, to drain the trapped water into the generator.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus, a generator for a refrigerant, periodically operated means for heating the-contents of the generator, a condenser for condensing the evaporatedrefrigerant, an evaporator, a pre-cooling device including a container for the refrigerant and a container for'brine in cooperative relation therewith, adapted to utilize the refrigerant as it passes from the evaporator to the generator during the evaporating period to establish a source of cold to be 'utilized during the generating period to pre-cool the condensed refrigerant as it passes from the condenser into the evaporator.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, a gener-- ator for a refrigerant, periodically operated means for heating the contents of the generator, a condenser for condensing {the evaporated refrigerant, an evaporator, a chamber located intermediate of and communicating with the condenser and the evaporator, a tank surrounding the chamber and adapted for the reception of brine to be cooled by the refrigerant as it passes from the evaporator into the enerator durin the evaporating period, t e brine thus chilled being utilized upon the next succeeding generating period'to pre-oool the refrigerant prior to its entrance mto the evaporator. p, Intestimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature to this specification. 45

ARCHIE HUGH STRONG. 

